Dr. David Foti has treated hundreds, if not thousands, of hurt necks, wrists and backs during the course of his 33 years in chiropractic practice.

But the Wauwatosa chiropractor says that he has seen a pronounced spike in the number of headaches and neck, back and other joint-related pains in recent years. He attributes the cause to society's sedentary lifestyle and growing reliance on personal computers and other electronic devices.

"I see it every day in my waiting room, patients who are bending over their phones with their heads held forward and double-thumbing text messages," said Foti, who operates Foti Chiropractic with his associates Dr. Felicia Toy and Dr. Hans Halaska - who happen to also be his daughter and his nephew. (Foti's wife, Jenny, is the practice's office manager, while a fifth family member, the couple's son, Phillip, is currently attending chiropractic school.)

"They're straining their necks and developing carpal tunnel syndrome and headaches - mostly while sitting for long periods of time, which puts up to five times the pressure on the lower back than when standing."

Using a range of hands-on and instrument-assisted adjustment and physical therapy techniques, Foti Chiropractic focuses on wellness, prenatal and pediatric care, women's health and preventive treatment. The practice also conducts a weekly class on how to maintain spine flexibility.

"Chiropractic science is based on the philosophy of spinal misalignment (subluxation) being the cause of disease," Foti said. "You can't put stress on one area without it affecting another part of the body. And if your spine is misaligned, it can put pressure on nerves, which will bring about illness."

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